I am booking a flight from Copenhagen to Vienna on Scandinavian Airlines. I think I read when making purchases in Europe, use that county's currency. Does that apply to this trip or should I purchase in $? Also I will have a small knapsack with my personal things (books, kindle, etc that I put under my seat plus one bag. Will they consider the knapsack a carry on bag or personal item? Thanks for your help.
Posted by
Maryland, USA
533 posts
When I recently flew SAS (both across the Atlantic and within Europe), I was able to take a tote bag as a personal item, in addition to my regular-sized carry-on bag. So I imagine that you will be fine with your knapsack and your other bag. Also, although the airline website lists a weight limit for carry-on luggage, nobody ever checked the weight of my bags (or anyone else's, as far as I could see).
Airlines don't usually try to rip you off on the exchange rate the way some other businesses do. If you're offered the choice of paying in different currencies, compare them against the current exchange rate to see which is the best deal.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Greg, the comment "use that country's currency" applies when buying in the country, using a credit or debit card. If you do so and are offered the "convenience" of paying in your own country, say NO. That is the dreaded DCC where the bank running the credit card machine or ATM decides the rate, and you have no comeback later.
For airlines, it doesn't make much difference what currency you pay in, they operate in multiple currencies.
For businesses operating in the country (train companies, hotels etc.). if you are quoted a price in a currency which is not the currency of that of the country, it means you have found a reseller/agent in your own country, and are running the risk they may have a mark-up/fee etc. built into their price.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
You should check the price of your flight in all three currencies, and see which is the best deal. You should also look at that ticket on both the US and the Danish versions of the SAS website (use Google Translate if necessary). I have no experience with SAS, but for Alitalia, their US website has higher prices for domestic flights than their Italian or International ones do (the International website has an English option, while the Italian one does not). Of course, this is a different situation, so it may not make any difference - but it never hurts to check.
Also, you may need to call your credit card to tell them you are doing a foreign transaction, or they could block this purchase.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Typically, the price in different currencies will be a simple application of exchange rates.
I'd book using dollars.
I've flown SAS. One carry on means one carry on. The small knapsack will not be permitted as an additional personal item. If you carry the knapsack on, anything else will need to be checked.
I carried a Civita daypack inside my carry on with similar stuff to what you describe. When I got on the plane, I pulled it out and kept it by my feet to have my flight stuff handy, then stowed the rest in the overhead. Before boarding, however, it was inside my carry on. Everything has to conform to both size and weight allowances. In the gate area, staff walked around and weighed people's bags that looked stuffed. Almost all were told they had to check the bag because it exceeded the weight limit.
Posted by
Ohio
1481 posts
From SAS website: The following is the maximum size and weight for cabin baggage onboard SAS flights:
Height: 55 cm/22"
Width: 40 cm/16"
Depth: 23 cm/9"
Weight: 8 kg/18 lbs.
If you are flying to the US or Asia in SAS Plus or SAS Business, you can bring two pieces of cabin baggage onboard each weighing up to 8 kg/18 lbs.
In addition to this allowance, all passengers are allowed to bring a handbag or small laptop bag onboard for free.